Signaling and indicating device.



J. J. AYLWARD. SIGNALING AND INDIGATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.4,1914

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

a J m w. VJ A l I m 40 O a a I 6 6 ill--- w M M w 6 H M ,1 3 a a z THE-NORRIS PETERS 60., FHOTC-LITHO. WASHINGTON, D. C.

JOHN J. AYLWARD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SIGNALING AND INDICATIN G DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application filed March 4, 1914. Serial No. 822,329.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. AYLWARD, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and Stateof New York, have mvented certain new and useful Improve ments inSignaling and Indicating Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates particularly to electrically controlled signaland indicating apparatus.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an improved device ofthe class above referred to, which shall be composed of but few partsand be capable of transmitting motion in a reliable manner, such as isrequired for instance, in operating secondary clocks, fioor indicatingsystems for elevators, engine-room telegraphs, and other appliancesemploying intermittently actuated indicators.

Another object is to provide a device readily adapted to carry anindicating member of any desirable design, for example, an index handco-acting with a dial, or a drum with symbols, or other elements ofsimilar character.

A further object is the provision of a frame for housing and carryingthe component parts of the device, which shall be efficient and at thesame time susceptible of being manufactured at low cost.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification proceeds.

With the said objects in View, the invention consists of thearrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described, pointedout in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in their preferredembodiment by the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1, is a compositeplan view and section of the device, partly broken away; Fig. 2 is afragmentary front elevation and section of the same; Fig. 3 is afragmentary sectional elevation representing a modified construction ofthe device, and Fig. 4 is a front view with parts shown in section ofanother modification.

In these views, the reference numeral 5 designates the base of thedevice, which may consist of a circular plate, as shown in Fig. 1, andis preferably placed inside a casing 6, to the bottom of which it can beconveniently, as well as detachably secured by means of screws 7.

On the surface of the base plate 5 are produced a plurality of housingmembers or sockets 9, which are open outwardly with relation to thecircumference of the plate and are disposed at equal distances apartthereover. These sockets may be cast integral with the plate, and aredesigned to contain each an electro-magnet ll, of the solenoid type. Bypreference, three sockets 9 are utilized in the form of the inventionherein illustrated. The said electro-magnet has a fixed core 12,extending axially from the outer open end of its socket 9, to the innerend thereof, which is closed, excepting a. central aperture wherein areduced portion 13 of the said core is received by a screw threadconnection.

A spindle 15 is loosely fitted in a central longitudinal bore of thefixed core 12, through which it is adapted to slide. This spindle actsas a plunger for a discoidal armature 16, located transversely of theopen end of the socket 9, from which the said armature is mechanicallyand normally projected by means of a helical spring 17, coiled aroundthe said spindle and lodged within an enlarged portion 18 of the saidbore. The latter named portion of the bore is made conical as at 19, toreceive a correspondingly shaped member or appendage 20, formed orplaced on the spindle at or near the point thereof with the armature. Itwill be observed that the conical member 20, entering the recess 19 ofsame outline, operates to close or reduce the gap at the armature end ofthe fixed core and thereby lessen interference with the magnetic flux orlines of force. Within the triangular space comprised between the innerends of the said sockets 9, is placed an upright shaft 23, stepped atits lower end in the base 5 and having its upper end similarly journaledin a plate 2-4, which overlies the said inner ends of the sockets and issupported by fiat bosses or blocks 25 produced thereon. An axiallyoffset part which is here shown in the shape of an eccentric cam 26 isformed or rigidly attached to the shaft 23, in the projecting planes ofthe several spindles 15 and in position to be acted upon by themintermittingly in rotation. The shaft 23 is intended to impart motion tothe indicating member of the device, either directly or indirectly, ashereinafter described.

Fig. 2 shows an efficient method of operating the indicating elementfrom the shaft 23 through the medium of a train of gears which may beeither spur or any other suitable kind. In this view, as well as in Fig.1 the indicating member is in the form of an index hand 30, arranged torevolve over a dial 31, in a well known manner. This dial is secured toan annular flange 31 the latter being held in place by a rim 32depending from the cover 33 of the before mentioned casing 6. The saidcover has a glazed aperture through which the hand and the symbols onthe dial 31 pointed out thereby may be observed, The gearing betweensaid index hand and the upright shaft 23 ishere shown as comprising afixed pinion 34 on the upper end of the latter, in mesh with agear-wheel 35, loosely revolving on a pin 36 passing through the plate24, a pinion 37 rigidly connected to said gear-wheel, and a second gearwheel 38, to which is fastened the inner end of the hand 30 both ofthese latter named elements being loosely mounted upon the upper end ofthe shaft 23- The pin 36 is threaded into one of the bosses or blocks 25under the plate 24, which it helps to maintain firmly in position. It isfurther formed with a broad head 39, serving to keep in their properplaces the gear Wheel 35 and pinion 37 of which it constitutes thepivot. The desired number of graduations on the dial 31 determines theratio of gearing to employ, and although there may be but three impulsesimparted to the shaft for a complete revolution, the gearing can be soproportioned as to-secure always the required number of indications onthe dial, for example, all the intervals representing hours and minuteson the face of a secondary clock.

An electrical impulse-transmitting device, of suitable type to rotatethe aforesaid carnbearing shaft 23 and the thereto connected indicatingmember 30, through the agency of the previously described armatures andnections are such it will be'noticed, that as the controller arm ismoved over the contact-p0ints, it will successively close and open thevarious circuits in which the elec tromagnets are located, and byenergizing the latter, will cause them to draw the armatures 16toward'the open ends of the sockets 9, consecutively. As each armaturemoves inward, the plunger 15 thereof is slid axially through the core12, against the spring 17, andbeing'thrust outof the closed end of thecorresponding socket 9, meets the cam 26 of the shaft 23. The impact ofthe rounded inner end of the plunger upon the cam causes it to revolvethe shaft partly, and simultaneously to shift the cam into the path ofthe next plunger. Thus, the cam bearing shaft is turned by a seriesof'imthe several armatures and the adjacent walls 7 of the casing 6.Thesebu'mpers or cushions save the armatures and spindles from actualcontact with the casing and deaden the noise which otherwise might beproducedby the same. a

A detent whichiiiay'be in the nature 'of'a spring pressed stop 55 ispreferab1yem- 1' ploy ed to check overrotation-o'fthe shaft'23, as it isbeing actuated by repeated impacts from the armature plun rsagaiiist thecam 26. This step is conveniently placed in'a barrel 56, formed "onthe'surface of the base plate 5, and co-acts with a series of peripheralnotches or indentations '57 areund the shaft 23. I

. As shown inth'e modified 'c'on'strueti'onof Fig. '3, the indicatingmember'may well be i connected up directly with the aforesaid shaft. Inthis view, it simply consists of a hollow drum 30, rigidly attached tothe upper end of the shaft'23, and bearing symcumference. Such symbolsmay be Seen through an aperture 62, in one side of the casing 6. It willbe understood that this drum 30"*, could as well be substituted for thehand 30 in Figs. 1 and 2, bearing the same'relation to the shaft23,,andbeing controlled by a similar train of gears. It is obvious thatseveral sets of compound gearing could'also be used. Fig.3 shows also amodified form of deterit for "the rotary'sha'ft 23, the same beingformed with the p late 24*, through which the saidsh'aft passes, abarrel56, 'formed thereunder, a "coiled spring 68 lodged in said 'barr'ehand aball'55 pressed by said coil-spring into corresponding cavities57 in theperiphery of 'th'e'shaft. Further in this view, the device forlimitingthe outward "movement of the armature 16 is here shown attached,as at"5'1 fto the wall'of the casing fi instead of to the outer-end ofthespin'dle 15, in order to "clear the'drum 30. The modification of theinvention shown in Fig. 4 illustrates-how a drum-carrying counter 70 maybe connected up with 'the V impact mechanism. Here also the walls 6 ofthe outer casing. have been representedas formed integral with'thesockets 9 and the base 5 Further, these sockets 9 have been extendedsuiiiciently to inclose the outer ends of the armature 16 and the coverplate 6 applied thereover prevents moisture, dirt or other foreignmatter from entering. The counter 70 is shown as carried by the cover 33the hub of the gear-wheel 35 extending through an opening in the sameand providing a suitable coupling means 71 for the driving spindle ofthe counter. In other respects the elements and their combinations inthis view are substantially the same as described with reference to Fig.2.

It is understood that when this improved signaling apparatus is to beused in connection with an elevator, the controller arm of thetransmitting device will be arranged to synchronize with the movementsof the car or cage, while the several sets of contact points are placedto correspond to the different landings, so that as each floor is beingapproached the arm will sweep over the contact point or points for thatparticular floor and set the appropriate signals.

\Vhile I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of mydevice, it will be understood that changes in the form, arrangements,size, proportions and details thereof may be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. A signaling device comprising an indi- A eatingmember, a rotary shaft therefor, a plurality of plungers operating toturn said shaft by successive impacts thereupon, and means for actuatingsaid plungers.

2. A signal and indicating device comprising a support, a series ofoutwardly facing electro-magnets equidistant thereon, a rotary shaftlocated between said magnets, plungers slidable through the severalmagnets inwardly toward said shaft and adapted to rotate the same bysuccessive impacts thereagainst, an indicating member operativelyconnected up with said shaft, and means for actuating said plunger-sfrom the outer ends of the magnets consecutively.

A signaling device comprising an indicating member, a revoluble shaftconnected therewith, a plurality of electromagnets disposed at regularintervals apart about said shaft, disconnected plungers slidable throughthe several magnets inwardly toward the shaft and adapted to rotate thelatter by impact, armatures drawn by said magnets at the ends thereofremote from said shaft to actuate said plungers, means for energizingthe 'magnets one after the other, and means for repelling the plungersafter demagnetization.

4. A signal and indicating device comprising a rotary shaft, a membermoved thereby, a plurality of electro-magnets equidistantly disposedaround said shaft, a fixed core in each magnet having an axial bore, aplunger slidable axially through said core so as to impinge upon saidshaft, means for sliding said plunger, and means for repelling thelatter subsequently to its impact upon the shaft.

5. A signaling device comprising an indicating member, a rotary shafttherefor, a series of electromagnets about said shaft, a fixed core ineach magnet having an axial bore with a partial enlargement, a plungerslidable through said core so as to impinge upon said shaft, a repellingspring coiled around said plunger within said enlargement of the bore,and means for sliding the plunger against the action of said spring.

6. A signaling device comprising an indicating member, a rotary shaftactuating the same, a series of electromagnets disposed around saidshaft, 2. fixed core in each magnet having an axial bore with a conicalenlargement atone end, a plunger axially slidable through said core soas to impinge against said shaft, an armature carried by said plungeracted upon by said magnet, and a conical appendage on the plungeradapted to enter said enlargement and thereby close or reduce the gapbetween the plunger and the adjacent walls of the magnet core.

7. A signaling device comprising an indicating member, a rotary shaftconnected therewith, a plurality of electro-magnets disposed around saidshaft, a fixed core in each magnet having an axial bore, a plungerslidable through said bore so as to impinge against said shaft, anarmature carried by said plunger, means for energizing the magnet toattract said armature, means to repel the plunger with its said armatureafter demagnetization, and a limit stop on the outer end of the plunger.

8. signaling device comprising an in dicatmg member, a cam-bearing shaftadapted to rotate the same, magnetic supports located around said shaft,a plunger slidable through each support toward the shaft to rotate thelatter by impact against said cam, means for actuating the severalplunger-s consecutively, and means for repelling each plunger afterimpact thereof upon the cam of the shaft.

9. An intermittently operated device comprising a shaft, an indicatingelement connected up therewith, an axially offset part carried by saidshaft, a plurality of plungers operating to turn the shaft by successiveimpacts upon said part, and means for actuating said plungers.

10. A signal and indicating device comprising a base, a shaft in thesame, a series of supports surrounding said shaft, plungers 'slidable insaid supports, an axially offset part on the shaft operating to turn thelatter by successive impacts received from said vplungers, means forrepelling each plunger after impact, a bearing member at the other endof said shaft "carried by said supports, an indicating member, andgearing operatively connecting up the shaft with said member.

ll. A signal and indicating device comprising a rotary shaft, a seriesof magnetic supports surrounding the same, plungers slidable in saidsupports toward said shaft, an axially offsetpart on the latter actuatedby successive impacts from said 'plungers, anindicating member moved bythe shaft, and a detent operating to hold the shaft between impacts.

12, A signal indicating device comprise ing a support, sockets carriedthereby, an electroniagnet in each socket, armaturecarrying plungersactuated by the several magnets, a shaft journaled in said support andhaving an axially offset part in the plane of said plungers, the latterbeing free from the shaft and operating one after the other to rotatethe same partially by impact upon said ofi'set part, and a memberconnected up vvithsaid shaft. V Signed at th borough of Manhattan in thecounty of New York and State of New York this 28th dayof-Eebruary-A, D191;

JOHN J. AYLWARD. Witnesses 7 p O. V-ZKARLSON, A. M. LINDENST-RUTH.

Copies of thispatent may beobtained'for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of lateniti V WashingtomDQG.

